GRAND Magazine - November/December 2017 - 37

grand finale

Give a GRAND Gift

All I want

BY DEBBY CARROLL
love holidays. I love all of the pomp and
circumstance and yes, I really love presents.
Me and presents? We go way back. I can
recall the exact moment of joy in December,
1960 when I ripped open the paper to find my
dream girl - the now vintage "Bubble Cut" brunette Barbie. My parents chose her, they said,
because she looked like me. By that I'm sure
they meant she had short brown hair because,
at age 9, I assure you no other part of me (then
or now) looked like Barbie.
So, why am I now saying "Enough" when it
comes to presents?
Because I literally have enough. I have
enough stuff. I have more than enough, actually.
I'm all the way to too much.
Don't get me wrong. I am beyond grateful for everything I have and take none of it
for granted. But, as one of the great perks of
growing older, I've discovered the joy of simple
things and beyond that, I now cherish the sheer
joy of moments more than material goods.
The only thing I want for this holiday season
is just that - moments. My birthday is in
December and I told my daughters that what I
really want is a Girls' Night Out with them. They
looked askance, almost rolled their collective
eyes, as if to say, "Yeah, sure, Mom."

I

"

I wasn't kidding. That is really all I want, from
them, at least.

I am fortunate to have an immediate family
filled with love and compassion: my husband
and three daughters, my three sons-in-law, and
the two newest additions to our circle of love,
my grand boys, Avery and Damon. (AKA Mr.
Delicious and Mr. Adorable)
I don't need gifts from any of them. I need
time together.
Don't get me wrong. There are other things I'd
like. I'd like a peaceful world. I'd like us to be able
to count on the planet sustaining us indefinitely.
I'd like our leaders to be compassionate and protective of us.
Those would be the presents I'd want to
receive this season. But, since my family can't
deliver those, I'll take what they can give: Time
to revel in all that we share: love, respect, compassion, and a good meal from time to time.
And I wish the same for you and yours.

Thank you for reading
this issue of GRAND!
37 GRAND

NOVEMBER DECEMBER 2017

"

I'd like our leaders to
be compassionate and
protective of us.

Yes, that is my actual Barbie on the left.
GRAND's editor, Deborah Carroll is Grammy to Avery and Damon and author of
two parenting books. Her most recent works include the narrative nonfiction, Tales
From the Family Crypt: When Aging Parents Die, Sibling Rivalry Lives, and a
children's picture book about grandparents, Real Grands: From A to Z, Everything A
Grandparent Can Be.


http://www.grandsub.com https://www.facebook.com/GRANDmagazine/ https://www.twitter.com/grandMmagazine http://www.grandmagazine.com/ https://www.amazon.com/Tales-Family-Crypt-Parents-Sibling-ebook/dp/B00TWMKAIO https://www.amazon.com/Tales-Family-Crypt-Parents-Sibling-ebook/dp/B00TWMKAIO https://www.amazon.com/Real-Grands-Everything-Grandparent-Can-ebook/dp/b01882aztm https://www.amazon.com/Real-Grands-Everything-Grandparent-Can-ebook/dp/B01882AZTM

GRAND Magazine - November/December 2017

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of GRAND Magazine - November/December 2017

Contents
GRAND Magazine - November/December 2017 - 1
GRAND Magazine - November/December 2017 - 2
GRAND Magazine - November/December 2017 - 3
GRAND Magazine - November/December 2017 - Contents
GRAND Magazine - November/December 2017 - 5
GRAND Magazine - November/December 2017 - 6
GRAND Magazine - November/December 2017 - 7
GRAND Magazine - November/December 2017 - 8
GRAND Magazine - November/December 2017 - 9
GRAND Magazine - November/December 2017 - 10
GRAND Magazine - November/December 2017 - 10a
GRAND Magazine - November/December 2017 - 11
GRAND Magazine - November/December 2017 - 12
GRAND Magazine - November/December 2017 - 13
GRAND Magazine - November/December 2017 - 14
GRAND Magazine - November/December 2017 - 15
GRAND Magazine - November/December 2017 - 15A
GRAND Magazine - November/December 2017 - 16
GRAND Magazine - November/December 2017 - 17
GRAND Magazine - November/December 2017 - 18
GRAND Magazine - November/December 2017 - 19
GRAND Magazine - November/December 2017 - 20
GRAND Magazine - November/December 2017 - 21
GRAND Magazine - November/December 2017 - 22
GRAND Magazine - November/December 2017 - 23
GRAND Magazine - November/December 2017 - 24
GRAND Magazine - November/December 2017 - 25
GRAND Magazine - November/December 2017 - 26
GRAND Magazine - November/December 2017 - 27
GRAND Magazine - November/December 2017 - 28
GRAND Magazine - November/December 2017 - 29
GRAND Magazine - November/December 2017 - 30
GRAND Magazine - November/December 2017 - 31
GRAND Magazine - November/December 2017 - 32
GRAND Magazine - November/December 2017 - 33
GRAND Magazine - November/December 2017 - 34
GRAND Magazine - November/December 2017 - 35
GRAND Magazine - November/December 2017 - 36
GRAND Magazine - November/December 2017 - 37
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2024winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2023fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2023summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2023winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2022fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2022summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2022spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2022winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2021fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2021summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2021spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2021winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2020fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2020fall_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2020summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2020spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/2020winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20191112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20190910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20190708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20190506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20190304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20190102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20181112_drm
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20181112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20180910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20180708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20180506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20180304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20180102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20171112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20170910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20170708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20170506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20170304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20170102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20161112_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20160910_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20160708_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20160506_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20160304_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20160102_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20151112_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20150910_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20150708_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20150506_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20150304_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20150102_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/201401112_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20140910_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20140708_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20140506_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20140304_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20140102_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20131112_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20130910_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20130708_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20130506_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20130304_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20130102_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20121112_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20120910_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20120708_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20120506_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20120304_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20120102_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20111112_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20110910_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20110708_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20110506_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20110304_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20110102_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20101112_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20100910_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20100708_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20100506_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20100304_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/201001_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/200912_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/200911_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/200910_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/200909_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/200908_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/200907_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/200906_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/200905_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20080910_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/200904_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/200903_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/200902_v3
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/grand/20081112_v6
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com